Under CFA's new driving strategy, which took effect on 1 July, within five years drivers of CFA vehicles will need to have demonstrated competency in driving vehicles under operational conditions.
In most cases they will have undertaken a Drive on Road course or completed a challenge test to the same standard.
In order to achieve this goal we will need more driving instructors and assessors. Currently North West Region has only four staff who regularly deliver driving instruction, so much of the extra load will be taken up by volunteers.
In June five members from Eppalock Group — Paul Atkins, Alan Butler, Ken Maskell, Ray Mundy and Nic van den Bronk—completed an intensive course leading to their qualification as Driver Instructor Level 1. As a result the number of volunteer driving instructors in District 2 has increased by about 50 per cent.
The new volunteer instructors have already assisted with a Drive on Road course. With their help we will be able to present more driving courses, and to undertake challenge testing of experienced drivers who do not yet have their driving competency recognised on the CFA system.
Author: District 2 News